Sri Aurobindo
Indian philosopher, yogi, and nationalist who formulated Integral Yoga.
Sri Aurobindo (born Aurobindo Ghosh; 15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950) was an Indian philosopher, yogi, and nationalist. He is noted for his participation in the movement for India's independence from British rule, advocating for complete autonomy through his writings and political activity. Following his imprisonment and acquittal, he withdrew to Pondicherry to devote himself to spiritual practice, eventually formulating the path of Integral Yoga.
- born
- 15 August 1872, Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, India
- died
- 5 December 1950, Pondicherry, India
- field
- Philosophy, Yoga, Literature, Nationalist Politics
- nationality
- Indian
- known_for
- Integral Yoga, The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, epic poem Savitri, Indian independence activism
Lore & Background
Sri Aurobindo was born in Calcutta in a Bengali Kayastha family. His father, a civil surgeon, sent him and his siblings to England for education, intending them to enter the Indian Civil Service. Aurobindo studied at King's College, Cambridge, and passed the ICS examination but disqualified himself purposefully. He returned to India in 1893 and joined the Baroda State Service, working in various departments and later as a part-time French teacher and vice-principal at Baroda College.
He became increasingly involved in nationalist politics, contributing articles to Indu Prakash and linking with resistance groups. He was arrested after bombings linked to the revolutionary group Anushilan Samiti and faced a public trial for treason in the Alipore Conspiracy case. After his acquittal, he moved to Pondicherry and developed a spiritual practice he called Integral Yoga. In 1926, he and Mirra Alfassa founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
His extensive literary output includes the philosophical treatises The Life Divine and The Synthesis of Yoga, and the epic poem Savitri: a Legend and a Symbol. He also wrote translations and commentaries of the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Gita, as well as plays, criticism, and correspondence.
Reader's Guide
Sri Aurobindo's significance lies in his synthesis of Eastern and Western philosophy, religion, literature, and psychology into a vision of humanity's transition to divinity. His principal philosophical works, The Life Divine and The Synthesis of Yoga, articulate the principles and methods of Integral Yoga, while his poetic masterpiece Savitri is considered a major literary achievement. His political activism, including his advocacy for complete autonomy and his involvement in the revolutionary movement, contributed to India's independence struggle. After his withdrawal to Pondicherry, he established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which became a center for spiritual practice. His legacy endures through his writings, which continue to be studied for their philosophical depth, and through the ashram and its teachings. His work remains influential in the fields of spirituality, yoga, and Indian philosophy.
Did You Know?
- He studied for the Indian Civil Service at King's College, Cambridge, from 1890 until his departure in 1892, but purposefully disqualified himself from the service.
- He was arrested after bombings linked to the Anushilan Samiti and faced a public trial for treason in the Alipore Conspiracy case before being released.
- He knew at least twelve languages, including English, French, Bengali, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, Italian, German, and Spanish.
- He and Mirra Alfassa founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926.
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